Year 12 - 2024/25 - Support, Discussion and Looking After Each Other

[BlackBean2023]

A survival thread for Y12 parents (24/25) now that GCSEs are over and our young people move onto KS5

Hi...I'm new to this thread but have a DC in year 12...and was just wondering if anyone had any advice. He's started at a sixth form college doing a t level in a practical subject. He really enjoys it...but for one lesson he has never had a teacher... only subs...now another two have left...I think one is ill. Some days he has no actual teaching...just subs who don't seem to do much my dc says. I do know they're recruiting for a teacher..

I'm really not sure what to do or what the options are? He's desperate to learn and keen and I'm upset he's basically just going in to sit there with a sub teacher. I'm not sure whether to wait it out and see what happens? Is it too late in the year to change course or college? I understand they get three years of free college education? Is that correct? I'm really concerned about it all.

And advice/similar experiences?

Thanks in advance

@Comedycook I think finding vocational teachers can be hard. Can you get him to ask the curriculum lead / his tutor what the plan is / what he can do to keep up?

My DD has had some supplies for her vocational course, bit they swap things around so they have the simplest units.

Thanks for responding...yes I've heard there's a shortage of teachers in the subject he's doing. He thinks he can pass by teaching himself from the textbook but it feels utterly pointless for him to even be in the college on days without any teachers. He said the subs often just sit on their phones...some don't even seem to be attempting to teach. He needs to go in though even just to keep up his attendance. My main worry is that he switches course or college and this happens again as like you say vocational teachers are in short supply. Very difficult to know what to do. I think I will speak to the college

What is his vocational subject? The quality of teaching sounds inexcusable, every young person deserves to do well and if he willing to engage and has a good attitude then he should get every chance.

Absolutely agree but there is a shortage of supply teachers as well as a shortage of permanent staff. Really hard for schools and colleges to get a body in front of the classroom let alone a decent one...

Dd has year 12 mocks. Personally i believe they are a bit early tbh. History is the biggest problem. This is her first assessment where the teacher has not given her the questions or any points before hand !! History and psychology on the same day as well

Just a FYI there are still places available on the Engineering Development Trust's Summer University Residentials for Year 12 students. Heard today that my DS has a place on one. (Think it will end up being his 'summer holiday' - he's reluctant to travel anywhere with us!)

https://www.etrust.org.uk/residential-insight-into-university

Anyone did GCSE revision courses in Easter that were helpful?

DS just did the ones the school offered @newtothis15

We've had bad news. My father in law died during half term. DS seems to coping well - a little quiet perhaps but broadly carrying on as normal.

DS has started doing some additional work he thinks will be good for university applications; he's taken over running the school's legal society and was number 2 board for the school's U18 chess team in a recent tournament. He's also written an essay for the school's historical group about chess as a political propaganda tool during the cold war (his pet subject!)

We've had no success getting work experience locally though. He has written to every law firm in our town, and the one his school is in, but no joy. Plan B is to do some of the online work experience linked to earlier in this thread.

Sorry to hear that @Waspie.

I think you mentioned you'd tried your local Council? Just wondering as I had a Y12 student from one of the local schools with me yesterday.

@Newlittlerescue DS has got on one bu it was a second choice one so he’s slightly disappointed. He’s still going though as it will be useful.

@Waspie I’m sorry to hear about you FIL 💐

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn That's a shame it's not his first choice, but will still be hugely worthwhile I'm sure. Is there a waitlist for his preferred course? I'd imagine a number won't follow through with payment...

One of DS's friends didn't get his first choice which confused me, as the course he applied for (a different one to DS's) is still showing as open for applications on that link above. But then I remembered that it said they would only place one child from any school on each course, so perhaps it was that.

Sorry for your loss @Waspie

We finally got in person work experience sorted in the HR department of the NHS trust I work for. True to form, we only got it all finalised yesterday! They are a joke. However, they have sent what looks like quite an interesting 4 day timetable and will give DS an idea of office life.

He had a fabulous trip to Iceland, quite a chilled half-term (apart from a v minor head injury)
Next week is work experience, and then it's only 5 weeks to Easter, Y12 has flown by!

I was actually thinking about contacting them about a wait list but I guess they won’t want to mess about the other uni, I might ask. To be honest I’m surprised as I thought the first one would be less popular than the one he got but I think it might be that it has fewer numbers to allocate.

Thanks @Lalux - yes he's tried both council's (ours and the schools'). I've suggested he contact the big companies locally as most probably have a legal team.

Thank @JustHereWithMyPopcorn and @gingercat02

Your son's Iceland trip sounds wonderful and great that he has secured interesting work experience. I hope he enjoys it! I agree, year 12 is racing by.

I remember last year there were a few courses with 'Spaces still available' right up til May, so if he moved across to his preferred course when a space became available, then it would simply open up a space in his allocated course, which they would then fill with latecomers. (I doubt the universities are involved beyond receiving the final list of attendees a few weeks before the event!)

Ok that’s another way to think about it, I will make contact and ask. Thanks.

DS has got lots of tests over the next two weeks, he’s already feeling frazzled. Also got parents evening next week so will see how is doing. 😬

We've had "mocks" which came out as B, A and A*. DD is currently very anxious about post 18 options. She wants to work backstage in theatre. School have said they have no idea. So she's frantically searching herself.... Non of this is helped by school cancelling all A level performing arts options meaning she is doing English.

@hels71 a good option would be to volunteer at her local rep. or community theatre; particularly if they have a youth theatre group as they will have licensed chaperones for under 18's. These groups are usually happy to have volunteers.

I've just finished stage managing a youth production over half term and I had 6 A level students (including DS) working as my ASMs. The lighting/tech director had two first year theatre studies undergrads helping him.

Those are great mock results. Is your daughter thinking of theatre studies at Uni?

We just had a look at the UCAS Discovery event. You need a UCAS student account for that. Is it something the school arranges or does DS sign himself up with UCAS?

@Wehaditsogood It’s straightforward for the student to register for a UCAS account:

www.ucas.com/what-are-my-options/create-your-ucas-hub-today

Then in due course the school will notify the year group with the school’s unique UCAS “buzzword” (e.g. “StJames2026”)* with which they can link to the school’s account. They don’t need this right away, but will need it when preparing a UCAS application.

*(I’ve made up that buzzword, but that sort of format is typical).

@JessyCarr Thank you.

@Wehaditsogood I think DS is going to that with his school, we just had to sign and pay for the coach like any other school trip as far as I know? Perhaps DS has already set up a UCAS account that I don't know about though.

Anyone's DC sitting the Senior Physics Challenge today?

School have arranged trip for our year 12s